Shloka 18

Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse

Devanagari script

कर्मजैर्बन्धनैर्बद्धास्तद्वद्‌ योगा: परंतप । अबला वै विनश्यन्ति मुच्यन्ते च बलान्विता:

Transliteration

karmajair bandhanair baddhās tadvad yogāḥ parantapa | abalā vai vinaśyanti mucyante ca balānvitāḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “Those who are bound by the fetters born of their own actions are, in the same way, constrained by their disciplines as well, O scorcher of foes. The weak indeed perish, while those endowed with strength are released.”

Word by Word

कर्मजैःby those born of action (karmic)

बन्धनैःby bonds, fetters

बद्धाःbound

तद्वत्likewise, in the same way

योगाःyogins / practitioners of yoga

परंतपO scorcher of foes (address)

अबलाःthe weak (ones)

वैindeed

विनश्यन्तिperish, are ruined

मुच्यन्तेare released, are freed

चand

बलान्विताःendowed with strength

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Parantapa (epithet of Yudhiṣṭhira)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bondage arises from karma, and even spiritual disciplines can feel like constraints; only those with inner strength—steadfastness, self-control, and resilience—can use discipline to transcend bondage and attain freedom, while the weak succumb to ruin.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and liberation. Here he contrasts weakness and strength in the context of karmic bondage and yogic practice, emphasizing that liberation requires sustained inner power rather than mere intention.